Improvement in rotary engines



GJ B, MASSEY.

' improvement ih Rotary Engines.- No. 125,7-8. v PatentedApriHsnsz.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN ROTARY ENGINES.

Specification formingpart of Letters Patent No.' 125,748, dated April16, 1872.

Specification describing a new and `useful Improvement in RotaryEngines, invented by GIDEON B. MAssEY, of the city, county, and State ofNew York.

This invention relates to the class of steamengines which impart motionwithout the use of a crank; and consists mainly in the construction ofthe cylinder and pistonwheel, and in the construction and arrangement ofthe pistons, whereby the pistons are kept stationary in the revolvingwheel while under steam-pressure, or while doing their work; and, also,in the oval cam-groove and flexible cam-blocks on the pistons, theconstruction and arrangement of parts being as hereinafter more fullydescribed.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a vertical section ofthe engine, taken on the line a: .r of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a verticalsection of Fig. l, taken on theline y y, Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. f

A is the cylinder, which is stationary on the bed B.. C is thepiston-wheel. D is the shaft to which the wheel G is attached. E, F, andG represent the pistons, which are made to slide radially with thecenter of the shaft through the rim of the revolving wheel C by means ofan eccentric or cam groove, H, on each of the heads I I of the cylinder.The arrangement of the pistons is seen inV Fig. 2, the inside of one ofthe heads being represented when looking to the right from the line y yof Fig. l. J represents ilexible cam blocks or heads, each attached bya` single pivot to the pistons, so that they adjust themselves to thevarying form of the camgroovc as they are revolved around its ovalcenter K. L is the inductionport, and M is the eduction or exhaust port.The pistons move in the direction indicated by the arrow inthis exampleof my invention; but the construction may be such that the motion may bereversed by converting the induction-port into Van exhaust-port, andvice versa. There are various well-known valve arrangements for thatpurpose. As seen in Fig. 2, the piston E is taking steam. When thepiston F, in moving forward, leaves the circle N of the cylinder, thesteam between the two pistons E F will be exhausted. The circle N andall the circular lines between it and the attached to the ends of thepistons, soKconf nected that the pressure of the steam will frce it tothe circle N and form a steam-joint while the piston is passing overthat circle. P represents small recesses in the periphery of thepiston-wheel, which receive these packingplates as the pistons occupythe position of the piston Gr. This allows the wheel C to pass with thepistons beneath the stationary packin g-piece Q. This packing-piece Q isattached to the cylinder, so that it turns as upon a hinge as :it ispressed downV upon the wheel by the steam, so as to make a steam-tightjoint at the top of the cylinder. As seen in the drawing, this piece isarranged for a reversible engine. R is a fly-wheel. S is thedriving-pulley. T T are boxes in the heads of the cylinder, set up tothe shaft by means of the screw U. Y Y are stuffing-boxes in the headsof the cylinder. Z is a driving-pulley for the governor. I propose touse a cut-off with this engine where the nature of the case requires it,the cut-off valve being actuated by a cam, W, on one end of the shaft,and a bell-crank connected with the valve-rod, as seen in Fig. 2.Referring again to the operating parts of the engine, it will be seenthat the wheel C is revolved eccentrically with the interior of thecylinder. The cam' -blocks J are connected with the pistons, as seen inFig. 1, and so that they en ter the stationary cam-groove H, whichgroove alternately pushes out and draws in the pistons through thewheel, but keeps them stationary with the' wheel while they pass overthe circle N, as before stated. By the above described arrangement, Iovercome an obstacle which has hitherto been met with in the use ofrotary stea1n-engines, and that is the sliding of the piston while it isunder steam-pressure and doing its work.

I do not confine myself to any particular mode of packing for making thejointsstearntight, nor to the precise form or arrangement of any oftheparts described, as they may be varied in many ways Without departingfrom my invention.

O lm'ms.

the induction and exhaust ports so as to oscillate, as specified.

3. The arrangement of the piston-Wheel C, circle N, cam-groove H, andshaft D, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. The cam-blocks J, constructedl as de# I scribed, and pistons F, incombination With the groove H and Wheel G, as and for the purposesdescribed.

GIDEON B. MASSEY. Witnesses:

Gno. W. MABE, T. B. Mosman.

